Spool, tray and reel constituted of spool and tray

ABSTRACT

A reel is constituted of two kinds of members including a spool and two trays. The spool and the tray are provided on the connecting surfaces with the same amount of the means to be hooked and the hooking means for hooking with each other. In this way, the spool and the tray can be connected with each other to form a reel for winding and fixing a tape. Further, one set of the means to be hooked and the hooking means has an idiot-proof design, so that they cannot be assembled with each other if only they are correctly aligned. With this idiot-proof design, the operators can easily recognize it to improve the guiding effect so as to prevent the mistake in assembling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reel for winding a tape (such as the carrier tape for electronic components) and fixing it thereon, and in particular to a reel constituted of multiple members.

2. Description of Prior Art

The reel in early stage comprises a structure constituted of two pieces. That is, the reel can be separated into two trays. These two trays are combined with each other by means of the shaft portion extending in the center of each tray.

Since the size of the carrier tape for electronic components varies depending on the electronic element to be packaged, the carrier tape having an extra width cannot be applied to a common reel. Therefore, in order to overcome the above problems, recently, some manufacturers have changed the design of the reel into a structure having three pieces (i.e., two side plate and a spool). The side plate can be manufactured according to the standard specification, while the spool can be designed in various kinds of specifications according to the size of the carrier tape. Therefore, according to the size of the carrier tape, the suitable spool can be selected and combined with the side plate.

Although the above reel constituted of three pieces can improve the problem in the application of various kinds of carrier tapes having different widths, the assembling of such reel is troublesome and complicated. Further, with respect to each stage of process in the manufacturing procedure, the above structure will inevitably increase the working hours and cost. Therefore, the conventional reel is only designed in consideration of the convenience for use, but cannot satisfy both the practicability and the convenience for manufacturing.

Further, in the reel constituted of multiple pieces, since each member has its own orientation of assembling, the mistake in assembling often occurs if the operator is not careful enough. Such problem has existed for a long time, but no manufacturers or designers ever provide a feasible solution to this.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above problems existing in the combined reel, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a reel that is much simpler in structure and easier to assemble. As a result, the manufacturing period can be greatly reduced to increase the productivity. Further, the operators at work site can easily perform the assembling.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a reel constituted of two kinds of members including a spool and two trays. The spool and the tray are respectively provided on the connecting surfaces with the same amount of the means to be hooked and the hooking means for hooking with each other, so that the spool and the tray can be fast hooked and connected.

Further, in the means to be hooked and the hooking means that are provided on the spool and the tray for hooking to each other, one set should be provided with an idiot-proof design, so that both means have to be correctly aligned with each other for the subsequent combination. With this idiot-proof design, the operators can easily recognize it to improve the guiding effect so as to prevent the mistake in assembling.

The following embodiment describes in detail the characteristics and advantages of the present invention, so that those skilled in this art can implement this invention in view of the technical contents thereof. Further, according to the disclosure, claims and drawings of the present invention, it is apparent that those skilled in this art will easily understand the objects and other advantages thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the reel constituted of a spool and two trays in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the reel of the present invention has completely assembled;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged perspective view showing the spool of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the tray of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing the state in which the spool and a tray of the present invention are assembled with each other; and

FIG. 5B is a front view of the structure shown in FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The primary characteristic of the reel of the present invention lies in simple assembling by hooking and fast manufacturing. Therefore, with the injection manufacturing procedure, the period of manufacturing can be greatly reduced to increase the productivity. Further, with the design of simple hooks, the operators at work site can easily understand and perform the assembling sequences.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, it shows the spool and the tray of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows the reel constituted of the spool and the tray. As shown in figures, the present invention is constituted of two members including a spool 11 and a tray 12, so as to form a reel 10 for winding a tape and fixing it thereon.

The faces on both sides of the spool 11 of the reel 10 are provided with a plurality of means to be hooked 21, respectively. Also, the face on one side of the tray 12 is correspondingly provided with a plurality of hooking means 22. The hooking means 22 and the means to be hooked 21 can be correspondingly hooked with each other, whereby to tightly connect the spool 11 and the tray 12.

FIG. 3A shows an enlarged perspective view of the spool. FIG. 3B is a front view of the spool. The spool 11 is an annular body having an inner hole. The outside of the spool 11 has at least one recessed insertion groove 111 for the carrier tape, so that the end of the carrier tape of an electronic component can be inserted into the groove.

The faces on both sides of the spool 11 are provided with a plurality of means to be hooked 21 arranged in an annular form. Each means to be hooked 21 comprises two pieces to be hooked 211 extending inwardly from the wall face of the inner hole. In addition, it can be seen from the drawing that both pieces 211 to be hooked of all means to be hooked 21 are not connected to each other, but an insertion groove 212 having a suitable width is provided in advance between the two pieces 211 to be hooked.

FIG. 4A is a partially enlarged perspective view of the tray. FIG. 4B is a front view corresponding to the tray 12 shown in FIG. 4A. The tray 12 is provided with a central hole 121 and a plurality of hollowed grooves 122 on the surface of the tray. The central region on one side of the surface of the tray is provided with a plurality of hooking means 22 arranging in an annular form. Each hooking means 22 comprises an elastic hook 221 and a rib 222 connected to the middle position of the elastic hook 221. The elastic hook 221 and the rib 222 are integrally formed on the surface of the tray. The elastic hook 221 has an elastic arm 2211 extending vertically from the surface of the tray and a hooking head 2212 provided on the free end of the elastic arm 2211. Further, as described later, the hooking head 2212 hooks on the piece 211 to be hooked 211, and the rib 222 of each elastic hook 221 can be exactly inserted into the insertion groove 212 between the pieces to be hooked 211. As a result, the spool 11 and the tray 12 can be hooked to each other, and in addition, the rib 222 can be inserted into the insertion groove 212. In this way, the rotating or idling can be prevented from occurring between the spool 11 and the tray 12. Also, the above structure can serve as a guiding means in assembling.

According to the above, the reel 10 of the present invention can be constituted of a spool 11 and two trays 12. Since the faces on both sides of the spool 11 have the same construction for connecting to the tray 12, both trays 12 can be respectively assembled to the surfaces on both sides of the spool 11 in the same manner.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing that the spool is hooked and connected with the tray. FIG. 5B is a front view corresponding to the structure shown in FIG. 5A. The spool 11 and the tray 12 are connected by means of the same amount of the means to be hooked 21 and the hooking means 22. This connection is achieved by the fact that the hooking head 2212 of the elastic hook 221 is hooked on the piece 211 to be hooked. Further, with the insertion of the rib 222 into the insertion groove 212, the relative rotation between the spool 11 and the tray 12 after assembling can be prevented.

The above-mentioned rib 222 and the insertion groove 212 are used for positioning in the assembling. In addition, as shown in the figure, one set of the rib 222′ and the insertion groove 212′ can be formed into another shape different from that of the other sets. The rib 222′ and the insertion groove 212′ have a larger length or width of extension, so that the spool 11 and the tray 12 cannot be completely assembled if this set of rib 222′ and insertion groove 212′ different from other sets are not correctly aligned and connected to each other. In other words, although the spool 11 and the tray 12 are correspondingly provided with the same amount of the means to be hooked 21 and the hooking means 22, due to the one different set of rib and insertion groove, the spool 11 and the tray 12 are not allowed to be arbitrarily assembled with each other but have to conform to the predetermined orientation to complete the assembling.

The above-mentioned set of rib 222′ and insertion groove 212′ having a different shape can be regarded as the aligning and positioning means for the spool and the tray. The reason is that not only they prevent the relative rotation between the spool 11 and the tray 12, but also they serve as an idiot-proof design in assembling. With such arrangement, the operators can easily recognize it to improve the guiding effect so as to prevent the mistake in assembling.

According to the above, the present invention is directed to a reel 10 constituted of multiple pieces and can be formed by assembling a spool 11 and two trays 12. The spool 11 and the tray 12 are provided on the connecting surfaces with the same amount of the means to be hooked 21 and the hooking means 22 for hooking with each other. In this way, the spool 11 and the tray 12 can be rapidly hooked and connected with each other. Further, among the means to be hooked 21 and the hooking means 22 on the spool 11 and the tray 12, one set of the means to be hooked and the hooking means has an idiot-proof design, that is, they cannot be assembled with each other if only they are correctly aligned. With this idiot-proof design, the operators can easily recognize it to improve the guiding effect so as to prevent the mistake in assembling.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still be occurred to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A spool of a reel, the faces on both sides of the spool provided with a plurality of means to be hooked arranging in an annular form, each means to be hooked comprising two pieces to be hooked, an insertion groove formed between the two pieces to be hooked, and the insertion groove of one means to be hooked different from that of the other means to be hooked in shape.
 2. The spool of a reel according to claim 1, wherein the spool is an annular body having an inner hole, and the plurality of means to be hooked extend inwardly from the wall face of the inner hole.
 3. The spool of a reel according to claim 1, wherein the outside of the spool has at least one recessed insertion groove for a carrier tape.
 4. A tray of a reel, a plurality of hooking means arranging in an annular form and extending from one side of the tray, each hooking means comprising an elastic hook and a rib, and the rib of one hooking means different from that of the other hooking means in shape.
 5. The tray of a reel according to claim 4, wherein the elastic hook and the rib are connected to each other.
 6. The tray of a reel according to claim 5, wherein the rib is provided in the middle position of the elastic hook.
 7. The tray of a reel according to claim 4, wherein the tray is provided with a central hole.
 8. The tray of a reel according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the tray is provided with a plurality of hollowed grooves.
 9. A reel, comprising: a spool, the faces on both sides of the spool provided with a plurality of means to be hooked arranging in an annular form, each means to be hooked comprising two pieces to be hooked, an insertion groove formed between the two pieces to be hooked, and the insertion groove of one means to be hooked different from that of the other means to be hooked in shape; and two trays for connecting to the faces on both sides of the spool, a plurality of hooking means arranging in an annular form and extending from one side of the tray, each hooking means comprising an elastic hook and a rib, and the rib of one hooking means different from that of the other hooking means in shape; wherein the means to be hooked and the hooking means are provided with the same amount, and they are capable of aligning and connecting with each other.
 10. The reel according to claim 9, wherein the spool is an annular body having an inner hole, and the plurality of means to be hooked extend inwardly from the wall face of the inner hole.
 11. The reel according to claim 9, wherein the outside of the spool has at least one recessed insertion groove for a carrier tape.
 12. The reel according to claim 9, wherein the elastic hook and the rib are connected to each other.
 13. The reel according to claim 12, wherein the rib is provided in the middle position of the elastic hook.
 14. The reel according to claim 9, wherein the tray is provided with a central hole.
 15. The reel according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the tray is provided with a plurality of hollowed grooves. 